John b



(No Model.)

J. B. GLEAVELAND.

I WIRE STEETCHER. 7 No. 338,486. Patented Mar. 23, 1886.

PETERS PholuLilhognpMr. Washington D. a

UNITE STATES PATENT OFFICE,

JOHN'B. CLEAVELAND, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

WlRE-STRETCHER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 338,486, dated March28, 1886.

Application filed November 25,1885. Serial No. 183,930. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may conce n/.-

Be it known that I, J OHN B. CLEAVELAND, a citizen of the United States,residing at Indianapolis, in the county of Marion and State of Indiana,have invented a new and useful Improved. Wire-Stretcher, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to that class of wirestretchers which consist of asmall windlass adapted to receive and hold the end of the fence-wire,and mounted upon the exterior of a fence-post, and arranged to stretchthe fencewire by drawing the end of the wire through the post andwinding it about the windlass.

The object of my improvement is to construct the Windlass so that it maybe easily turned in a direction to wind the fence-wire upon it, and willretain the wire taut when so wound, but will yield to an extraordinarystrainas the contraction of the wire at a low ten1peratureand unwindsufficiently to prevent the breaking of the wire.

The accompanying drawing illustrates my invention.

The figureis a plan of the windlass and a section of a post.

A is a bracket, the base of which has plane surfaces 1) Z), which adaptit to rest on the side of a rectangular fence-post, c, and a centralcurved surface, d,which adapt it to fit the curved side of a cylindricalpost. (Indicated by dotted lines.)

E is a cylindrical spindle arranged to turn in bearings formed inbracket A.

F is a cylindrical boss formed on one side of bracket A, concentric withthe spindlebearing, and having in its outer face a series ofratchet-teeth, the retaining-face h of which is inclined backward at anobtuse angle, and the face at is inclinedforward at an acute angle.Spindle E is provided at one end with a rectangular head, 7:, rigidlysecured thereto or formed integral therewith, and an elastic washer, 7:,formed, preferably, of rubber, is placed upon the spindle between headis and bracket A. Upon the opposite end of the spindle is removablysecured,by means of a pin, like Z, a set-screw, or other suitabledevice, a collar, j, having upon one of its vsides ratchet-teethcorresponding to those of the boss F.

In putting the Windlass together, washer t is compressed, so that whenthe collar 9' is secured the ratchet-teeth of said collar are drawn intoclose engagement with the ratchetteeth on boss F by the recoil of thewasher, and the washer is still further compressed when the spindle isturned in either direction by the riding of the ratchet-teeth of collar3' over the corresponding ratchet-teeth of boss F. At about midway ofthe length of the spindle is a hole, a, passing diametrically throughthe spindle for the purpose of attaching the end of the fence-wire 0 tothe spindle.

In operation, the fence wire is passed through asuitable opening in thepost, and also through the base of bracket A and into the hole in thespindle. A wrench is then applied to the head It of the spindle, and thespindle is turned in the direction indicated by the arrow, and the wireis wound upon the spindle until sufficiently taut, the acutelyinclinedfaces m of the ratchet-teeth in boss F and collar j easily overcomingthe recoil of washer t. The faces it hold the spindle from turningbackward under the ordinary strain of the wire, but, being slightlyinclined backward, an extraordinary strain upon the wire will overcomethe recoil of washer t and cause the spindle to turn backward a part ofa revolution, thus unwinding the wire and relieving its tension.

I am aware that a cylindrical spindle having a fixed head, an elasticwasher, and a removable head or collar having one side made concave tofit the exterior of a cylindrical tubular post, the spindle passingdiametrically through the post and the fence-wire wound upon the spindleinside the post, have before been used, and form the subject-matter ofanother application for a patent by myself, No. 180,385, now pending,and I do not here claim anything therein shown; but

I claim as my invention- The above-described portable wire-stretcher,consisting of the spindle having a fixed head and a removable collar,one side of which collar is provided with ratchet-teeth,

means for securing said collar to the spin- IOC dle, the elastic washer,the supporting-bracket turn backward, all combined and arranged tohaving bearings'in which said spindle is areo-operate substantially asand for the purranged to revolve, and a ratchet-toothed boss posespecified.

thereon arranged to engage the ratchet-teeth JOHN B. CLEAVELAND. 5 ofsaid collar, said ratchet-teeth having back,- Witnesses:

Wardly-inolined retaining-faces, as shown and H. P. HOOD,

described, whereby the spindle is allowed to FRANK A. JACOB.

